Do you have a plan for which gear you'll be in and where, and where to stand? I remember reading in this thread the guy doing a time of 6:30 is out of the saddle the whole way.

Vbp that is on the 39 and was sitting down all the way .... trying to built it up till I can get it in lower sprockets but that will take time, will try 19 next but that will hurt no doubt Corey (the KOM holder) is a machine ! He is an A grade elite racer and places in the top spot and wins on a regular basis.I am only master C grade and getting old(Er) and stand no chance to get near that time at all. I'd be happy the day I crack low 9or mid 8s

Le Velo wrote:Vbp that is on the 39 and was sitting down all the way .... trying to built it up till I can get it in lower sprockets but that will take time, will try 19 next but that will hurt no doubt Corey (the KOM holder) is a machine ! He is an A grade elite racer and places in the top spot and wins on a regular basis.I am only master C grade and getting old(Er) and stand no chance to get near that time at all. I'd be happy the day I crack low 9or mid 8s

19? ouch! You've inspired me to do some repeats Sunday morning and be lower than 24!!

I've seen Corey's times on Strava for various places.. amazing. Although some times have me scratching my head thinking if they're actually physically possible? e.g. Nerang circuit outside of the velodrome - ave speed 57km/h. Really?

jasonc wrote:well yesterday was a slog-fest. didn't even make it to 1.75kms up in the 25. Today on the other hand I made it all the way up in the 25. Now I just have to keep it up

EDIT: turns out my cassette has a 24 not a 25. yay for me.

I know it's been mentioned in this thread already, but it's so true about 39-25 not being low enough gearing unless you're a bolter. I trundled up again on Sunday morning with some friends and I was pedalling about half as fast (and standing up a lot) compared to the woman I was riding with who had compact gears.

I'm not sure I want to give up the std crankset though. I like the 39 ring for general riding, river loops etc. I suspect if I had a 34 it would only get used on cootha or similar.

I have SRAM Red compact cranks with an 11-25 cassette...for me it works very well. Low enough to climb Cootha seated, but high enough (50t-11t) to push faster on the downhills. On 'flat' roads, i usually go big ring and something middle range up the back.

punk_rob wrote:I have SRAM Red compact cranks with an 11-25 cassette...for me it works very well. Low enough to climb Cootha seated, but high enough (50t-11t) to push faster on the downhills. On 'flat' roads, i usually go big ring and something middle range up the back.

Have a look on ebay - you can pick up an 11-25 cassette pretty cheaply. And sell your old one and recover the costs. Altho, to be honest the 11t doesnt get used all that much for me. Its handy for on the rollers/trainer however.

punk_rob wrote:Have a look on ebay - you can pick up an 11-25 cassette pretty cheaply. And sell your old one and recover the costs. Altho, to be honest the 11t doesnt get used all that much for me. Its handy for on the rollers/trainer however.

No ride this morning as anticipated as I had a late finish last night with work so skipped lunch today and did 4 repeats at the back instead.Took the training bike which has compact to make it easier Managed to get up 3/4 on the 34x19 but had to cheat and use the 21 till the topBy the 4th repeats the legs were burning a bit and cadence was dropping as low as 37 but was holding it around 45 at most times and stayed on the 21 all the wayStill managed a 11:35 on one of the laps .... last lap was 13:07 and the legs felt it .... by the time I got down on the 4th repeats the legs were twitching and shaking ....

Le Velo wrote:No ride this morning as anticipated as I had a late finish last night with work so skipped lunch today and did 4 repeats at the back instead.Took the training bike which has compact to make it easier Managed to get up 3/4 on the 34x19 but had to cheat and use the 21 till the topBy the 4th repeats the legs were burning a bit and cadence was dropping as low as 37 but was holding it around 45 at most times and stayed on the 21 all the wayStill managed a 11:35 on one of the laps .... last lap was 13:07 and the legs felt it .... by the time I got down on the 4th repeats the legs were twitching and shaking ....

don't feel so bad then with an 11:40 with my heavy wheels and a backpack

punk_rob wrote:Have a look on ebay - you can pick up an 11-25 cassette pretty cheaply. And sell your old one and recover the costs. Altho, to be honest the 11t doesnt get used all that much for me. Its handy for on the rollers/trainer however.

btw - prices on ebay for the cassettes are more expensive that new from ribble cycles

I made it up in the 24 again this morning though I was assisted by a honeyshotz. Think I haven't totally recovered from nebo/glorious on sunday. Did my quickest time up there while commuting (i.e. backpack/heavy wheels) so I can't be too tired or sore.

Le Velo wrote:How much do you carry to work???? Laptop? clothes? etc ????? Surely it can't be that much is it?

a couple of tubes, a hydration pack (in the bag), mobile, usb keys, clothes, lunch and whatever else is wandering around in the bottom of my bag.

the wheels/tyres probably make the biggest difference. considering i can pick up the rear wheels and feel the weight difference (pro-lite como with vittoria randonneur 28c vs shimano rs-30 with gatorskin 23c) it makes a difference

Le Velo wrote:How much do you carry to work???? Laptop? clothes? etc ????? Surely it can't be that much is it?

a couple of tubes, a hydration pack (in the bag), mobile, usb keys, clothes, lunch and whatever else is wandering around in the bottom of my bag.

the wheels/tyres probably make the biggest difference. considering i can pick up the rear wheels and feel the weight difference (pro-lite como with vittoria randonneur 28c vs shimano rs-30 with gatorskin 23c) it makes a difference

EDIT: I won't commute with a laptop - too heavy.

Fair enough .... I had about the same minus the bag, lunch and clothes ..... unless the leg warmers, arm warmers and jacket count ..... was a bit overdressed this morning I think .... I was hot already within 20min on the bikepath Wheels are similar to the Bontrager I have and found out this morning that the front hub needs replacing after the near death braking down the back and wheel shacking ..... time to dismantle the wheel now and get the hub serviced ..... argh ..... will take the DA next time I'm up

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